Fat removal and nerve protection device and method

Abstract

A fat removal device includes a screen which includes passages through which fat can be extruded, to be cut or melted away from the surface of an internal organ. The device includes a blade to cut the fat or radiofrequency monopolar or bipolar electrodes to melt the fat, aspiration to remove the fat away from the screen and blade, irrigation to irrigate the screen and blade, and an electrocautery member to cauterize the capillary bed of the fat. Methods of using removing the fat layer from the surface of an internal body organ are also described.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 658,588, filed on Sep. 8, 2003; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 874,360, filed Jun. 6, 2001, which is now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,890.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for removing fatty tissue from a human body without damaging underlying nerves. [0004] 2. Brief Description of the Related Art [0005] Recent advances in cardiology, radiology, cardiothorasic vascular and neuro surgery have allowed patients suffering from various diseases of the internal organs to benefit from less invasive techniques to surgically treat their conditions. With the advent of newer techniques, however, come newer difficulties in the application of these techniques to all the qualified patients. [0006] Recent advanced techniques and devices allow for the correction of numerous defects of the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fat removal and nerve protection device comprises a cannula having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending proximally along said longitudinal axis, and an opening in said cannula at said distal end which fluidly communicates said lumen with the exterior of said cannula, and a protective mesh attached to said distal end and distal of said opening, said mesh including openings sized to permit human fat cells to extrude through said openings when said mesh is pressed against a mass of human fatty tissue, said openings also sized to prevent human nerves underlying said human fatty tissue from passing through said openings when said mesh is pressed against said mass of human fatty tissue.

[0016] In accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fat removal and nerve protection device comprises a cannula having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a tip at said distal end, a lumen extending proximally along said longitudinal axis, and an opening in said cannula at said distal end which fluidly communicates said lumen with the exterior of said cannula, said cannula tip being angled inward, and a cutting element in said lumen adjacent said cannula distal end, wherein said cannula tip angle is selected to permit human fat cells to extrude into said cannula opening when said cannula distal end is pressed against a mass of human fatty tissue, said cannula tip angle also being selected to prevent human nerves underlying said human fatty tissue from passing into said cannula opening when said cannula distal end is pressed against said mass of human fatty tissue.

[0024] In accordance with a twelfth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fat removal and nerve protection tool comprises a first outer sheath electrode having a lumen and a distal end, the outer sheath electrode including holes at the distal end to allow fat to enter the lumen, and a second helical wireform inner rotatable electrode positioned in the lumen to rotate relative to the holes to move to the proximal end of the tool any fat that is melted upon application of radio frequency energy between the first and second electrodes such that a vacuum source can remove the fat from the tool. In addition, the helical member may be formed with a convexity so that, when rotated, it creates a suction within the canula to move fat into the canula

Problems solved by technology

With the advent of newer techniques, however, come newer difficulties in the application of these techniques to all the qualified patients.

In all of these procedures, however, often a thick layer of fatty tissue must be removed from around the heart to expose the myocardial tissue to be treated.

The use of a scalpel to remove the fat clearly presents a level of danger to the patient's coronary arteries which is only marginally tolerable; the consequences of mishap are severe.

Prior devices exist which aspirate fat or other substances from the body of a patient, but which are not suitable for removing the fat layer from the external surface of an internal body organ.

Laparoscopes exist, but are not useful because they cannot break up fatty tissue while ensuring that larger blood vessels which are located under the fat are not also severed.

Numerous atherectomy devices have been proposed, however they are far too small to be effectively employed to remove the sometimes large volumes of fat which covers the organ, and also do not provide any protection for the underlying nerves and blood vessels.

Failure to identify nerves during surgery could result in those nerves being inadvertently damaged.

Nerves are often enclosed or covered with fat, making their identification and isolation particularly difficult.

Failure to identify nerves can lead to severe disability should those nerves be injured as a result.

Nerves and vessels that are in the same space can be easily damaged.

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